Three-month nickel was the only contract to trade higher in the morning session on the London Metal Exchange on Monday July 19, with most other base metals, with the exception of copper, consolidating at elevated levels.Nickel's three-month price rose to $19,155 per tonne in early trading, before easing slightly to $19,095 per tonne at 9am. The metal gained 2% throughout last week, finishing on Fr...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts are ready to view.This month's key North American steel forecast highlights:?EUR? US sheet prices hit record highs again in May, with upward momentum persisting into June. Actual US hot-rolled coil prices averaged $1,553 per ton in May, largely in line with our forecast of $1,540 per ton. Prices remain supported by strong underlying sup...Read More
The latest forecasts from Fastmarkets' team of analysts is ready to view.As we approach the end of the first half of 2021, steel markets in Europe and the United States continue to heat up. This six-month period is largely unprecedented, with both steel prices and steelmakers' margins hitting a number of new record highs throughout.The rally is likely nearing its end, however, with global steel ou...Read More
Zinc producers in China's southwestern province of Yunnan should be able to fully resume their operations by mid-June, sources said.Yunnan will remove its power restrictions by the end of June that have stunted local zinc output, the provincial energy bureau said.A few zinc smelters in Yunnan have already resumed production, however, sources that spoke to Fastmarkets said.Production capa...Read More
Iron ore prices eased on Monday July 19 amid weaker market sentiment caused by restrictions on sintering and emissions imposed on mills in the steelmaking hub of Tangshan, sources said.Fastmarkets iron ore indices 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao: $221.04 per tonne, down $0.39 per tonne62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao: $223.02 per tonne, down $0.37 per tonne58% Fe fines high-grade premium, cfr Qingd...Read More
The London Metal Exchange launched new lithium and aluminium premium futures contracts on Monday July 19, which are cash-settled against Fastmarkets' assessments.The lithium contract will be cash-settled against Fastmarkets' price assessment for lithium hydroxide monohydrate, 56.5% LiOH.H2O min, battery grade, spot price, cif China, Japan & Korea. Fastmarkets' most recent assessment for this price...Read More
A combination of concerns over the spread of the delta variant of Covid-19, a sturdy dollar index and falling US equities triggered a sell-off in London Metal Exchange prices during the afternoon's trade on Monday July 19.Nickel's three-month price showed the biggest drop of the day, down by 3.2% at the close to $18,462 per tonne, from Friday's $19,070 per tonne price at the same time."Nickel pric...Read More
U.S. equity index futures were higher this morning. S&P 500 futures were up 17 points in pre-opening trade.Equity index futures were virtually unchanged following release of June U.S. Housing Starts at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus was an increase to 1.590 million units from 1.572 million units in May. Actual was an increase to 1.64 million units.IBM advanced 4.63 to $142.40 after reporting higher th...Read More
Base metals prices on the LME were up across the board this morning, Tuesday July 20, while the SHFE followed Monday's weakness, which was triggered by growing fears over the potential impact of the Delta variant of Covid-19 on the global economic recovery.* Gold, the yen and the dollar were stronger and the United States 10-year treasury yield weaker - all signs of a pick-up in haven demand* The...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday July 19 that are worth another look.European steel association Eurofer is demanding stronger carbon emissions measures to guarantee a balanced approach that will enable a decarbonization of the region's steel industry, it said on Thursday July 15.Read More
The pig iron export market from Brazil was muted again during the week to Friday July 16 because suppliers have been concentrated on the local market, sources told Fastmarkets.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, export, fob port of Vitoria/Rio, Brazil was $620-625 per tonne on Friday, stable week on week....Read More
The pig iron import market in the United States was slow during the week to Friday July 16 because buyers held sufficient stocks and were waiting for prices to be reduced.Fastmarkets' price assessment for pig iron, import, cfr Gulf of Mexico, US, was $625-645 per tonne on Friday, down from $650-655 per tonne a week before."Both Russia and Ukraine have unsold cargoes for August shipment and later....Read More
Inland dry ports will be constructed to facilitate bulk material transport and to improve air quality, according to a notice released by Handan Ecology and Environment Bureau (HEEB) on Monday July 19.HEEB released a notice on forwarding the Work Plan of Hebei province Atmospheric Pollution Control 2021, where the Leading Group of Hebei province Atmospheric Pollution Control proposed to construct i...Read More
Prices for both new steel and aluminium scrap materials continued to rise across the UK and Europe in the week to Friday July 16, amid further manufacturing disruptions, causing the global scrap supply deficit to worsen.Manufacturing shutdowns and automotive supply chain halts - and increased demand for aluminium products, which are commanding record-high premiums - have created a huge imbalance i...Read More
Slab export prices from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) continued to decline in the week to Monday July 19, amid falling finished flat steel values in the region's main destination markets.In Turkey, hot-rolled coil prices dropped in the week to Friday July 16 on low activity in the key export outlets for that product. Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for steel HRC, export, f...Read More
Market activity in the European Union's hot-rolled coil sector has been limited due to the seasonal slowdown and long lead times, sources told Fastmarkets on Monday July 19.In addition to seasonal factors, buyers have shown limited interest in acquiring flat steel due to sufficient stocks and long lead times from domestic and overseas suppliers.Credit lines for buyers have also been exhausted over...Read More
Australia-listed Vulcan Energy has signed a binding offtake agreement to supply South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) with battery grade lithium hydroxide from it's 'zero carbon' facility in Germany, the producer said on Monday July 19.Vulcan will supply battery-grade lithium hydroxide to LGES for an initial five-year term. Commercial deliveries are set to commence in 2025 and there is an option...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Monday July 19 that are worth another look.European steel association Eurofer is demanding stronger carbon emissions measures to guarantee a balanced approach that will enable a decarbonization of the region's steel industry, it said on Thursday July 15.Read More
Activity in the EU hot-rolled coil market in the week to Friday July 16 was low due to a seasonal demand slowdown and limited availability.Buyers were holding back from acquiring material due to the summer holiday slowdown and uncertainty about the price trend. Domestic prices have remained high despite a slight correction lower while buyers, who have sufficient stocks for a couple of months, pref...Read More
Here are five Fastmarkets stories you might have missed on Friday July 16 that are worth another look.Flat-rolled steel import prices increased in South America during the week ended July 16 amid higher freight rates from China and the first deals for September-shipment cargoes of Brazilian and Japanese origin,...Read More